Reflecting electric lamp



July 14, 1956.

H. DOUGLAS REFLEGTING ELECTIRIC LAMP Original Filed Feb. 3. 1930 2Sheets-Sheet l I HARRY A. 130mm lNvLNTOR T ATTORNLT-S H. A. DOUGLAS 7REFLECTING ELECTRIC LAMP Original Filed Feb. 3. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m0 m A vl .R m H m m U M PW W IMM l. B

Reiuucd July 14, 1936 "UNITED STATES I 20,032 REFLECTING ELECTRIC LAMPHarry A. Douglas, Bronson, Mich.

Original No. 1,876,877, dated September 13, 1932,

Serial No. 425,547, February 3, 1930. Appllcation for reissue March 17,1934, Serial No.

25' Claims., (01. 113-339 My invention relates to structures employingincandescent electric lamps and is particularly serviceable inconnection with concave reflectors, though there are features of myinvention whose use is not to be thus limited.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improvedmeans for enabling the assembly of an incandescent electric lamp with amounting, and more particularly with a reflector. Another object istoprovide new and improved means for positioning, and for holding inposition, with a mounting or reflector, an incandescent electric lamp.

A further object is the provision of a construction in which thereflector, itself, is employed to receive the pressure that enables theassembly.

of the lamp and mounting or reflector, an arrangement which permits ofdirect assembly of the lamp and mounting or. reflector.

Other objects will appear hereinafter as description of the inventionproceeds.

The novel features oi'the invention will fully appear from thisspecification and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof anddisclosing one embodiment of the invention, and all these novel featuresare intended to be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a view illustrating one embodiment of myinvention, the incandescent lamp being shown in elevation, while asocket means assembled therewith and-a fragmentary portion of a mountingare shown in section;

Fig. 2 is-a sectional view on line 2-2 01' Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line H oi Fig. i;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. i;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a completeautomobile head lamp embodyingthe structure oi! my invention shown in ,Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectionalview on line t-O of Fig. 1;

and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating some parts in separatedrelation.

The head lamp illustrated is inclusive of a parabolic reflector l whoseparabolic reflecting face'is covered by a light transmitting closure 2which may be of glass. This closure is held providing axially depressedseats l8.

present invention on which account further description of these partsneed not be given.

- In the embodiment of the invention illustrated an incandescent lamp 5has a generally cylindrical lamp base 6. The reflector i has a pri-. 5mary circular opening I or substantially the diameter of the lamp base6, which opening, when used, may surround the base in close proximitytherewith. The reflector i also is provided with a plurality ofauxiliary openings 8, 9, the purpose 0! 10 which will appear. Theauxiliary openings I, l are in this case formed by locally extending theprimary opening I.

The lamp 5 is positioned and held in position with the reflector bymeans associated with the lamp and with the reflector. In this case thepositioning means proper is associated with the base 6, which islaterally extended or enlarged. The lateral extension or enlargement ofthe base 6 is desirably in a plane perpendicular to the axis of thebase, and may take the form of a plurality oi projections or pins Ill.The holding means in this instance includes a cage-like means ll.

The cage-like means Ii includes a shell portion I! with which areassociated axially extending spaced portions, in the form of bars ortongues i3.

The-bars or tongues It, in this case three in number, are adapted to bemounted with the reflector l, by insertion through the respectiveauxiliary openings 8, 9; as will more fully appear.

The illustrated embodiment of my invention includes bayonet connectionmeans between the lamp base 6 and the cage-like means ii. By 5 way ofillustration, that element of the bayonet connection means provided witha slot is, in this instance, carried by or forms a part of the cagelikemeans ll, whereas the element cooperating with the slotted element iscarried by or forms a part of the lampbase. Accordingly, the bars II areprovided with transversely extending slots or recesses It. On one sideor edge these slots are not rectilinear but are provided with shouldersIS.

The approach to the top 01' the shoulders it, from the open side of theslots I4 is desirably in the form oi. inclined planes Il. I

The portion 01' the bayonet connection means, complementary to the slotsi4, is, in this instance, provided by the lateral extension orenlargement on the lamp base 6, specifically in this instance theprojections II.

The bars it of the cage-like means are desirabiy bent radiallyoutwardsalong one axial edge II, as can be seen most clearly in Figs. 4 and 7,so that the portions I9 so bent are in general planes approximatelytangent to the inner peripheral locus of the cage-like means. Theportions 19 are adapted to substantially register with the auxiliaryopenings 8.

In order'that the bars l3 may be more readily mounted with thereflector, the auxiliary openings 9 are provided. These openings, whichmerge into theopenings 8, have their radially outer edges formed to besubstantially registrable with the bent portions l9 and are ofsuificient peripheral width in conjunction with the openings 8 so thatthe axial ends 2|! of the bars I! may be inserted through said openings.When so inserted and then rotated .in a counter-clockwise direction,as'viewed in Fig. 7, the portions I! are cammed radially inward untilthe trailing edges 01' the portions I! clear the shoulders 2| formed atthe Junction between the auxiliary openings 8 and 8, whereupon theportions l9 snap radially outward into the openings 8, the bars I! beingdesirably made of resilient material. When that position is assumed, theseats l6 overlie the portions 22 of the reflector. The portions I! areaxially slidable in the openings 8. In the illustrated construction, theradially outer margins of the openings 8 are preferably equidistant fromthe reflector axis, so that the cage-like means when mounted with thereflector has its.axis coincident with the axis of the reflector. a

For the purpose of biasing the seats l6 toward the reflector, aresilient means is provided which in thiscase is mounted with thecage-like means II and comprises three elements here shown as threespaced lea! springs 23 which may be integrally associated with a centralplate 24. The plate 24 has an opening large enough to permit the plateto be slipped over the shell portion l2. Motion of the plate 24,- towardthe right, as viewed in Fig. 1,,may be limited by cars or enlargements25 on the shell l2. The ends of springs 23 are based on the reflector.

The ears 2! may be bent radially inward'to retain in position with theshell portion l2, a contact carrying insulating member 26. The member 26may be a disc somewhat larger in diameter than the outside shell portionand provided withnotches for cooperationwith the ears 25. The member 28has associated therewith a resilient means which comprises a stem or rod28, slidable in the member 26, a sleeve" being desirably interposed. Theresilient means proper is shown as a helical spring II provided with asleeve, suitably mounted in said member, disposed about the stem 28 andinterposed between a head 2! on the stem 28 and a shoulder on the sleeve21. The movement of the head 2| under. the bias of the springll issuitably limited asby a collar 22 on the stem 2!. The head 2! may serveas an electrical contact to contact with a contact 20 on the base or thelamp. The stem 2! may have a conductor 38 suitably connected thereto.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the lamp 5 is aso-called single pole lamp whose filament 33 has one terminal connectedby a conductor 24 with a metallic sheath that surrounds and forms a partof the lamp base 6. The other terminal of the lamp is connected by aconductor 25 with the contact II, in this case upon the lamp axis. o

Assuming that the cage-like means II has been mounted with the reflectorl as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs. 1 through 6,

. points, desirably approximately 120 apart, regplishes at least theprincipal object of my inven- 2o,os2

iii-it is desired to position a. lamp 5 with the reflector I, thelateral extension means on the lamp base is first sopositioned and movedaxially toward the reflector l, against the bias of resilient means 3|,that the pins III are opposite the open sides oi the gaps between theinclined planes l1 and the reflector l. The lamp is then rotated so thatthe pins Ill enter said gaps, the resulting cam action as between thepins ill and the inclined planes l1 moving the bars Hi toward the left,as viewed in Fig. 3, against the bias of the'resilient means 23, thebiasing action 01' which is thus increased. When, in such rotativemovement of the lamp, the pins I clear the shoulders IS, the seats l6snap-onto the pins Ill, into the position shown in Fig. 3. h It isevident that the lateral extension means on the lamp base thus will bepressed against and positioned from the reflector at three spaced 20istering with the pins Ill. The positioning means thus provided insuresthe coincidence of the axes of the lamp and reflector, and. also sincethe lighting center of the filament 33 is upon the lamp axis, thelighting center can be brought 25 into coincidence with the focus of thereflector by suitable predetermination of the distance between thelighting center and the lateral extension means, specifically the pinsHi.

It will be evident that the cage-like means II with its resilient means23 serves not only to press the'positioning means proper of the lampinto registry with a plurality of points associated with the reflector,spaced about the periphery of the'lamp, to position the lamp from 35 thereflector, but also serves, through the bars or tongues thereof, incooperation with the lateral extension on the lamp base, to restrainmovement of the lamp about its axis. In order that movement of the lampabout its axis may be restrained in the direction the reverse from thatwhich takes place in assembling the lamp with the reflector, and at thesame time permit ready intentional removal of the lamp, the approach tothe tops of the shoulders IS, in a directimi. from the ends of the slotsl4 toward their open ends may also be in the form of inclined planes31', as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7.

It is further evident that the described construction is not onlyadapted to'perform all of the functions or the usual socket means forincandescent electric lamps but that in this instance there is provideda slot-and-projection connection means which in its more specificaspects is jointly defined by the lamp base means, the reflector and thesocket means. More specifically, the construction provides a bayonetslot or seat. or both. defined jointly by the reflector means and thesocket means. In view oi! the foregoing it will be apparent to 60 thoseskilled in the art that the herein disclosed embodiment of my inventionprovides a newand improved lamp assembly, and accordingly accomtlon.

It also will be obvious to those skilled in the art that my inventionmay be embodied in other constructions wherein the means for positioningthe lamp. and the means for holding it in position with the reflector,may assume a variety of 70 forms, variously changed and modified withinthe spirit of the invention. I I

, In general it will be clear to those skilled in the art that thefeatures of my invention need not all be used in one embodiment such asthe parmodified, without departing from the spirit of the invention. orsacrificing the advantages thereof, and accordingly that the disclosureherein is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limitedthereto.

Iclaim:

1. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp having a fllament; areflectori'or said lamp, presenting toward said filament a side having areflecting surface; positioning means on the base of said lamp, forpositioningsaid lamp relative to said reflector, constructed-andarranged to bring said lamp and reflector into register at a pluralityof spaced points disposed about the axis .01 said lamp at-said side ofsaid reflector; andmeans acting to press said positioning means and saidreflector into register at said points, to position said lamp directly.from said reflector.

2. In combination; an incandescent .eiectric lamp having a filament; areflector for said lamp,

presenting toward said filament a side having a reflecting surface;positioning means on the base of said lamp. for positioning said lamprelative to said reflector, constructed and arranged to bring said lampand refiectorinto register at a plurality of spaced points disposedabout the axis or said lamp at said side oi. said reflector; pressingmeans, detachably mounted on said reflecto acting to press saidpositioning means and said reflector into register at said points, toposition said lamp directly from said reflector; and means forreleasably holding said pressing means in mounted position.

3. iii combination: an incandescent electric lamp having a fllament; areflector for said lamp, presenting toward said fllament a side having areflecting surface; positioning means on the base 01' said lamp, forpositioning said lamp relative to said reflector, constructed andarranged to bring said lamp and reflector into register at a pluralityof spaced points disposed about the axis of said lamp at said side ofsaid reflector; pressing means acting to press said positioning meansand said reflector into register at said points, to position said lampdirectly from said reflector; and means including a bayonetconnectionior connecting said pressing means to said mounting.

4. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp having a filament; areflector for said lamp. presenting toward said fllament a side having areflecting surface; positioning means on the base of said lamp, forpositioning said lamp relative to said reflector, constructedand,arran'ged to bring said lampand .reflector into register at aplurality of spaced points disposed about the axis of said lamp at saidside of said reflector; pressing means acting to press said positioningmeans and said reflector into register at said points, to position saidlamp directly from said reflector; means including a bayonet-connectionfor connecting said pressing means to said mounting; and means forlatching said bayonet connection q against unseating rotation.

5. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp having a filament; areflector i'or said lamp, presenting toward said filament a side havinga reflecting surface; positioning means for said lamp adapted to bringsaid lamp and reflector into register at a plurality of spaced pointsdisposed about the axis of said lamp at. said side of said reflector;and means acting to press said positioning means and said reflector intoregister, at said points,-to position said lamp copesf-ticular disclosedembodiment, and may be individually or collectively variously changedand .directly 'irrom said reflector; said last named :about theperiphery oi said aperture at said side not said reflector; and socketmeans for said lamp,

mounted with said reflector, inalineiiient with said aperture, andengaging said base; said socket means comprising resilient means, andsaid resilient means acting to press a portion of said socket meansagainst said positioning means. to thereby press said positioning meansand said reflector into abutment at said points, to position saidlampdirectly from said reflector.

'I. Incombination: an incandescent lamp having a filament; a reflectorfor said ii p. Presenting toward said fllament a side having arefleeting surface; said lamp having positioning means adapted toregister with said reflector at a plurality ,oi spaced'points disposedabout the axis of said lamp at said side of said reflector; means,mounted with said reflector, for coop eratlon with said positioningmeans, to restrain movement of said lamp about its axis'and means actingto press said positioning means and said reflector into register, atsaid points.

8. In combination: an-incandescent electric lamp whose base is laterallyenlarged; a mounting therefor; socket means for said base; said lateralenlargement being betweenand in engagement with a portion oi said socketmeans and said mounting; resilient means; acting through theintermedlatlon oi said socket means, to press said lateral enlargementagainst said mounting; and means whereby rotation of said base 'causesanincrease in the bias of said resilient means. a

9. The combination with an incandescent lamp whose base has a lateralbayonet projection; of a mounting'thereior; a socket receiving the baseof said lamp and having a bayonet recess that receives said bayonetprojection, said mounting being positioned to be also engaged by saidprojection which is interposed between said mounting and seat; and aspring pressing the socket upon said bayonet projection, and through theintermediation oi the socket, pressing the bayonet projection againstsaid mounting.

10. The combination with an incandescent lamp the center of whoselighting fllament is upon the lamp axis and the base of which lamp 60has three bayonet projections in a plane that is perpendicular to thelamp axis; of a parabolic reflector; a socket receiving the base of saidlamp and positioned by the reflector to bring the ,ing these projectionsagainst said reflector, the

spring engaging the reflector at at least three places around the axisof the reflector. A,

11. The combination with an incandescent 1'5 lamp, the center of whoselighting fllament is upon the lamp axis and the base ot-which lamp islaterally enlarged at at, least three places spaced around the axis ofthe base in a plane perpendicular to the lamp axis, of a parabolicreflector, a socket receiving the base 0! said lamp,

- the lateral enlargements oi the lamp base being between a portion ofthe socket and said reflector, and a spring carried by the socketpressing the socket upon the lateral enlargements ot the lamp -base andthrough the intermediation Y of the socket, pressing the lateralenlargements 01' the lamp base against the reflector, the springengaging the reflector at at least three places spaced apart around theaxis of the lamp base.

12. The combination with an incandescent lamp whose base is laterallyenlarged; oi a mounting therefor; a socket receiving the base of saidlamp, the lateral enlargement of the lamp base being between a portionof the socket and said mounting; and a spring pressing the socket uponthe lateral enlargement oi the lamp base and, through the intermediationoi the socket,

' pressing the lateral enlargement'oi the lamp base against saidmounting.

13.In combination: 'an incandescent electric lamp having a base; amounting for said lamp; and means for connecting said lamp to saidmounting including, a lateral extension on said base, engaging means forengaging said lateral extension; and resilient means acting to presssaid engaging means against said lateral extension to press said lateralextension against said mounting including, a lateral extension on saidbase, engaging means for engaging said lateral extension, said lateralextension being insertable between a portion of said engaging means andsaid mounting, .said portion of said .engaging means, before saidinsertion of said lateral extension, being at a lesser distance fromsaid mounting than the thickness 01 said lateral extension, means actingto bias said portion of said engaging means toward said mounting; andmeans whereby rotation of said base to connect said lamp to saidmounting causes said portion to move away from said mounting to permitsaid insertion of said lateral extension.

16. In combination: ,an incandescent electric lamp having a base; amounting for said lamp;

and means for connecting said lamp to said' mounting including, alateral extension on said base, engaging means for engaging said lateralextension, biasing means acting to press said engaging means againstsaid lateral extension to press said lateral extension against saidmounting, and means whereby rotation of said lateral extension about theaxis of said lamp causes increase in the bias oi said biasing means. 17.In combination: an incandescent electri lamp having a base; a mountingionsaid lamp: and means for connecting said lamp to said said lampcauses said engaging mounting including, a lateral extension .on saidbase, engaging means for engaging said lateral extension, said engagingmeans being movable with respect to said mounting, biasing means actingto press said engaging means against said lateral extension to presssaid lateral extension against said mounting, and means whereby rotation of said lateral extension about the axis of means to move awayfrom said mounting.

18. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp having'a base; amounting for said lamp; and means for connecting said lamp to saidmounting including, a lateral extension on said base, engaging means forengaging said lateral extension, said lateral extension being insertablebetween a portion of said engaging means and said mounting, said portionof said engaging means, after said insertion 01' said lateral extension,being at'a lesser distance from said mounting than during the insertionof said lateral extension, means acting to bias said portion of saidengaging means toward said mounting; and means whereby rotation of saidbase to disconnect said lamp from said mounting causes said.

mit withdrawal of said lateral extension from between said engagingmeans and said mounting.

19. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp having a base; amounting for said lamp; means, for connecting said lamp to said mountingincluding, a lateral extension on said base, en-

. gaging means for engaging said'lateral extension,

' in mounted position.

20. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp having a base; amounting for said lamp;

. portion to move away from said mounting to per- 1 means for connectingsaid lamp to said mounting including, a lateral extension on said base,engagingmeans for engaging said lateral extension, resilient meansacting to press said engaging means against said lateral extension topress said lateral extension against said mounting, said engaging meansand said resilient means comprising a unit, and means including abayonet connection for connecting said unit to said mounting. s

21. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp having a base; amounting for said lamp;

meansfor connecting said lamp to said mounting including, a lateralextension on said base, engaging means for engaging said lateralextension, resilient means acting to press said engaging means againstsaid lateral extension to press said lateral extension against saidmounting, said engaging means and said resilient means comp ing a unit,means including a bayonet connec ion for connecting said unit to saidmounting, and means for latching said bayonet connection againstunseating rotation;

. 22. In combination: an incandescent. lamp. having, a base; a reflectorfor said lamp, provided with an aperture, in alinement with said base;said reflector being provided with a plurality of auxiliary aperturesdisposed about the axis 01 said base; said base having means adapted topositionsaid lamp in a predetermined position; means having portionsdisposed throughsaid auxiliary apertures and adapted to engage saidpositioning means with said portions; and resilient mieans acting topress said portions in a direction toward said reflector against saidpositioning means, to thereby press said positioning means against saidreflector.

23. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp. having a base; areflector for said lamp; said base having laterally extendingpositioning means, adapted to register with said reflector; pressingmeans detachably mounted with said reflector, said pressing means havingparts overlying said positioning means and constructed and arranged topress against said positioning means; and resilient means constructedand arranged to cause said parts to press said positioning means intosaid register.

24. In combination: an incandescent .electric lamp, having a filamentand a base; a reflector i'or said lamp, presenting toward said fllamenta side having a reflecting surface; said base having laterally extendingpositioning means, adapted to register with said reflector at said sideof said reflector; pressing means adapted to press against saidpositioning means one of said means being provided with bayonet slotmeans and the other with projection means adapted to cooperate with saidslot means; and resilient means constructed and arranged to cause saidpressing means to press said positioning means into said register.

25. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp; a mounting; socketmeans and base means for said lamp, said socket means and base meansbeing constructed and arranged for bayonet connection with each other,one of said means being provided with one of the elements of saidbayonet connection and the other oi said means being provided with thecomplementary element of said bayonet connection; said mounting beingpositioned to be engaged by the base means element of said bayonetconnection; and resilient means constructed and arranged to press thesocket means element of said bayonet connection against-

